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10 June 2008
أوباما واللوبي الإسرائيلي
مقال حلو – مفيش كلام ، منقول من هذا الموقع العظيم كالعادة.
أعتقد أن الأمريكان - بعد ولايتين للحزب الجمهوري - ضروري بقي يكونوا زهقوا ويتمنوا التغيير فهيختارو أوباما.
أفتكر إن الدكتور فؤاد زكريا كان كتب زمان أوي مقال يسخر فيه من الانتخابات الأمريكية وسلوك الناخب الأمريكي وترقب العرب للنتيجة- ضروري أدور على المقال ده تاني.
No, I Can't!Obama, Israel and AIPAC
By URI AVNERY
After months of a tough and bitter race, a merciless struggle, Barack Obama has defeated his formidable opponent, Hillary Clinton. He has wrought a miracle: for the first time in history a black person has become a credible candidate for the presidency of the most powerful country in the world.
And what was the first thing he did after his astounding victory? He ran to the conference of the Israel lobby, AIPAC, and made a speech that broke all records for obsequiousness and fawning.
That is shocking enough. Even more shocking is the fact that nobody was shocked.
IT WAS a triumphalist conference. Even this powerful organization had never seen anything like it. 7000 Jewish functionaries from all over the United States came together to accept the obeisance of the entire Washington elite, which came to kowtow at their feet. All the three presidential hopefuls made speeches, trying to outdo each other in flattery. 300 Senators and Members of Congress crowded the hallways. Everybody who wants to be elected or reelected to any office, indeed everybody who has any political ambitions at all, came to see and be seen.
The Washington of AIPAC is like the Constantinople of the Byzantine emperors in its heyday.
The world looked on and was filled with wonderment. The Israeli media were ecstatic. In all the world's capitals the events were followed closely and conclusions were drawn. All the Arab media reported on them extensively. Aljazeera devoted an hour to a discussion of the phenomenon.
The most extreme conclusions of professors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt were confirmed in their entirety. On the eve of their visit to Israel , this coming Thursday, the Israel Lobby stood at the center of political life in the US and the world at large.
WHY, ACTUALLY? Why do the candidates for the American presidency believe that the Israel lobby is so absolutely essential to their being elected?
The Jewish votes are important, of course, especially in several swing states which may decide the outcome. But African-Americans have more votes, and so do the Hispanics. Obama has brought to the political scene millions of new young voters. Numerically, the Arab-Muslim community in the US is also not an insignificant factor.
Some say that Jewish money speaks. The Jews are rich. Perhaps they donate more than others for political causes. But the myth about all-powerful Jewish money has an anti-Semitic ring. After all, other lobbies, and most decidedly the huge multinational corporations, have given considerable sums of money to Obama (as well as to his opponents). And Obama himself has proudly announced that hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens have sent him small donations, which have amounted to tens of millions.
True, it has been proven that the Jewish lobby can almost always block the election of a senator or a member of Congress who does not dance - and do so with fervor - to the Israeli tune. In some exemplary cases (which were indeed meant to be seen as examples) the lobby has defeated popular politicians by lending its political and financial clout to the election campaign of a practically unknown rival.
But in a presidential race?
* * *
THE TRANSPARENT fawning of Obama on the Israel lobby stands out more than similar efforts by the other candidates.Why? Because his dizzying success in the primaries was entirely due to his promise to bring about a change, to put an end to the rotten practices of Washington and to replace the old cynics with a young, brave person who does not compromise his principles.
And lo and behold, the very first thing he does after securing the nomination of his party is to compromise his principles. And how!
The outstanding thing that distinguishes him from both Hillary Clinton and John McCain is his uncompromising opposition to the war in Iraq from the very first moment. That was courageous. That was unpopular. That was totally opposed to the Israel lobby, all of whose branches were fervidly pushing George Bush to start the war that freed Israel from a hostile regime.
And here comes Obama to crawl in the dust at the feet of AIPAC and go out of his way to justify a policy that completely negates his own ideas.
OK he promises to safeguard Israel 's security at any cost. That is usual. OK he threatens darkly against Iran , even though he promised to meet their leaders and settle all problems peacefully. OK he promised to bring back our three captured soldiers (believing, mistakenly, that all three are held by Hizbullah - an error that shows, by the way, how sketchy is his knowledge of our affairs.)
But his declaration about Jerusalem breaks all bounds. It is no exaggeration to call it scandalous.
NO PALESTINIAN, no Arab, no Muslim will make peace with Israel if the Haram-al-Sharif compound (also called the Temple Mount ), one of the three holiest places of Islam and the most outstanding symbol of Palestinian nationalism, is not transferred to Palestinian sovereignty. That is one of the core issues of the conflict.
On that very issue, the Camp David conference of 2000 broke up, even though the then Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, was willing to divide Jerusalem in some manner.
Along comes Obama and retrieves from the junkyard the outworn slogan "Undivided Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel for all Eternity". Since Camp David , all Israeli governments have understood that this mantra constitutes an insurmountable obstacle to any peace process. It has disappeared - quietly, almost secretly - from the arsenal of official slogans. Only the Israeli (and American-Jewish) Right sticks to it, and for the same reason: to smother at birth any chance for a peace that would necessitate the dismantling of the settlements.
In prior US presidential races, the pandering candidates thought that it was enough to promise that the US embassy would be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem . After being elected, not one of the candidates ever did anything about this promise. All were persuaded by the State Department that it would harm basic American interests.
Obama went much further. Quite possibly, this was only lip service and he was telling himself: OK, I must say this in order to get elected. After that, God is great.
But even so the fact cannot be ignored: the fear of AIPAC is so terrible, that even this candidate, who promises change in all matters, does not dare. In this matter he accepts the worst old-style Washington routine. He is prepared to sacrifice the most basic American interests. After all, the US has a vital interest in achieving an Israeli-Palestinian peace that will allow it to find ways to the hearts of the Arab masses from Iraq to Morocco . Obama has harmed his image in the Muslim world and mortgaged his future - if and when he is elected president.
* * *
SIXTY FIVE years ago, American Jewry stood by helplessly while Nazi Germany exterminated their brothers and sisters in Europe . They were unable to prevail on President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to do anything significant to stop the Holocaust. (And at that same time, many Afro-Americans did not dare to go near the polling stations for fear of dogs being set on them.)What has caused the dizzying ascent to power of the American Jewish establishment? Organizational talent? Money? Climbing the social ladder? Shame for their lack of zeal during the Holocaust? الحتة اللي جاية دي بيقولها باردو دكتور عبد الوهاب المسيري، يا تري مين بياخد من مين، ولاّ توارد خواطر؟ The more I think about this wondrous phenomenon, the stronger becomes my conviction (about which I have already written in the past) that what really matters is the similarity between the American enterprise and the Zionist one, both in the spiritual and the practical sphere. Israel is a small America , the USA is a huge Israel . The Mayflower passengers, much as the Zionists of the first and second aliya (immigration wave), fled from Europe , carrying in their hearts a messianic vision, either religious or utopian. (True, the early Zionists were mostly atheists, but religious traditions had a powerful influence on their vision.) The founders of American society were "pilgrims", the Zionists immigrants called themselves "olim" - short for olim beregel, pilgrims. Both sailed to a "promised land", believing themselves to be God's chosen people. Both suffered a great deal in their new country. Both saw themselves as "pioneers", who make the wilderness bloom, a "people without land in a land without people". Both completely ignored the rights of the indigenous people, whom they considered sub-human savages and murderers. Both saw the natural resistance of the local peoples as evidence of their innate murderous character, which justified even the worst atrocities. Both expelled the natives and took possession of their land as the most natural thing to do, settling on every hill and under every tree, with one hand on the plow and the Bible in the other. True, Israel did not commit anything approaching the genocide performed against the Native Americans, nor anything like the slavery that persisted for many generations in the US . But since the Americans have repressed these atrocities in their consciousness, there is nothing to prevent them from comparing themselves to the Israelis. It seems that in the unconscious mind of both nations there is a ferment of suppressed guilt feelings that express themselves in the denial of their past misdeeds, in aggressiveness and the worship of power.
* * *
HOW IS it that a man like Obama, the son of an African father, identifies so completely with the actions of former generations of American whites? It shows again the power of a myth to become rooted in the consciousness of a person, so that he identifies 100% with the imagined national narrative. To this may be added the unconscious urge to belong to the victors, if possible.
Therefore, I do not accept without reservation the speculation: "Well, he must talk like this in order to get elected. Once in the White House, he will return to himself."
I am not so sure about that. It may well turn out that these things have a surprisingly strong hold on his mental world.
Of one thing I am certain: Obama's declarations at the AIPAC conference are very, very bad for peace. And what is bad for peace is bad for Israel , bad for the world and bad for the Palestinian people.
If he sticks to them, once elected, he will be obliged to say, as far as peace between the two peoples of this country is concerned: "No, I can't!"
10:20 Posted in Articles | Permalink | Comments (9) | Email this | Tags: Uri Avnery on Obama
Comments
The Mini Poll.
You have a mini poll in your blog asking us how do we rate your blog, in fact your blog is one of my favourites, however there is only one annoying thing there, which is the advertisements banners. And Ironically, I think it's Bravenet, the Poll Script, is the one responsible for such annoying banners.
Posted by: Tarek | 10 June 2008
انا لا أعتقد بالمرة في موضوع التعاطف الجيني الوجداني بين الشعب الامريكي واسرائيل لتشابه التاريخ
يعني لو صحت هذه النظرية يبقى المصريين كمان اكيد كانوا متعاطفين جدا مع هتلر وهو بيحرق اليهود
لان اجدادهم فرعون وجنوده كانوا بيعذبوهم، يقتلون أبناءهم ويستحيون نساءهم
يبقى احنا الاحفاد نرث هذا الاجرام وجدانياً؟
والله ما طبعا فيه احفاد كتير ورثوا الموضوع ده بس مش ضد اليهود خالص
!!
Posted by: محمد شدو | 10 June 2008
طارق:
معلش يا فندم، أنا حطيت البتاع ده أول ما فتحت المدونة ، لكن أنا أصلا بليد فى التكنولوجيا عموما . وعلى فكرة أنا مش بيظهر عندي الاعلانات دي.
أشكرك يا عمنا
------------------------
محمد شدو:
لأ هو أفنري والمسيري مش بيقولوا أنه تعاطف جيني، همه بيقولوا إن تشابة المشروع الاستيطاني لافت للنظر في الدولتين - واللي أصلا فى حد ذاته جزء من المشروع الإمبريالي الغربي من عصر النهضة - بيؤدي لعدم الاستغراب أو الاستهجان بل والتعاطف والتفهم للأفعال القذرة لكل مشروع من المشروع التاني.
لكن مش حاجة جينية أكيد.
أنا شخصيا شايف وجهة النظر دي وجيهة ومدعمة بالحقائق.
Posted by: Mukhtar | 11 June 2008
هو التعاطف وعدم الاستغارب راجع اكتر لنوعية الرسائل الاعلامية السائدة
يعني احنا العرب بنشوف ونركز على حاجة وهما على حاجة
غير ان اسرائيل مش في مركز وعي الامريكي العادي
ممكن الامريكي اليميني اللي شايف ان اسرائيل جزء من مشروع الرب ماشي
لكن الباقي اسرائيل عندهم مكان بعيد ممكن يفكروا فيه بس لما تيجي حاجة في الاعلام
وساعتها هيفكر فيها حسب محتوى الرسالة الاعلامية
زي ما احنا بنفكر في جوعى افريقيا بس لما نشوف خير عنهم ورأينا هيكون حسب الرسالة الاعلامية اللي وصلت لنا
او اي نزاع بعيد عنا وعن اهتماماتنا رأينا هيكون حسب الرسالة اللي وصلتنا
اليهود من خلال سيطرتهم على الاعلام بيتحكموا بقى في ده في نوعية الرسائل الاعلامية
بالنسبة للمشروع الغربي الاستيطاني
فبرضه هم زينا عندهم الناس اللي بتفكر وتاخد موقف انساني منطقي من تاريخهم وعندهم اللي ماشي مع القطيع مش فارقة معاه حاجة
دي طبيعة البشر يعني وعقلية القطيع وعدم المراجعة للمعتقدات الموروثة ده طبع انساني منتشر
والله أعلم
Posted by: محمد شدو | 11 June 2008
my friend,
i wrote some posts about Islam in my blog .
would you please comment?
Posted by: Nowruz | 26 June 2008
.
Hamas will never accept Israel. The Muslim governments don't want a Jewish state in their midst. The Israeli Lobby in the USA is powerful, but they also make sense, so it is hard for politicians to go against Israel.
People are hypnotized with Obamamania and his Obammunism. Good fodder for Obama posters here. Posters about him reflect this puppy dogs, doves and rainbows feeling. The Obama Utopia.
If Obama can stay pretty clean, do some good things as Senator, and then become Governor of IL, he could be unstoppable in 2012 or 2016. Scary stuff.
I would dearly love to see a Jewish, African-American woman as POTUS. It's not race or gender that makes it for me though. It's political beliefs that matter, and socialism is bad for everybody, (accept those high in government or high-level academia) especially poor people, of all races. Obama is a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, no thanks.
His 'Change', 'Hope' and 'Progress' mantras are actually somewhat self-mocking. Making your own Obama posters is totally addicting.
I laughed so hard I almost had a breakdown. LOL!
:)
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
befriend a bomber
pushing for change at all costs
sacrifices must be made
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
only feel and hope
please force people to change
change can only be good
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. If there is no freedom of speech, then there can be no real freedom.
.
Make Some Obama Posters NOW!
.
Che Makes Money for Capitalists
.
Help Halt Terrorism Now!
.
USpace
:)
.
Posted by: USpace | 28 June 2008
يا مختار
لولا أنّك مختفى من قبل وفاة "المسرى" رحمة الله عليه كنت قلت انّك معتكف حزنا !!
لعل الغياب لخير إن شاء الله
:)
Posted by: زمان الوصل | 12 July 2008
زمان الوصل:
الحمد لله بخير، ووفاة المسيري مصيبة فعلا لكن أنا بقالي 3 شهور مش عارف أرجع لنمط حياتي المعتاد من بعد وفاة والدتي وابن عمي في يومين متتالين. حاولت أقنع نفسي إني مش متأثر وإن كل شئ تمام بس الحقيقة إن في أحداث بتحصل في الحياة بتسيب وجع شديد من الصعب تجاوزه دون آثار. فبقيت مش باكتب ولا باقرأ الا عشان الشغل وبس وحتي الشغل اتأثر جدا، فيبدو ان محاولة اعادة الاندماج في الحياة كانت غير طبيعية وطبعا غير مثمرة. لكن الحمد لله أنا أحسن من الأول باردو.
أشكرك على اهتمامك يا زمان الوصل، جزاك الله خيرا
Posted by: Mukhtar | 13 July 2008
:(
لا حول ولا قوّة إلاّ بالله
البقاء لله .. و أدعو الله أن يرحمهما و يغفر لهما و يلهمكم الصبر
طبعا لك كل الحق أن تتأثّر بشدّه بهذه الحوادث المؤلمه و تحتاج لوقت للتواؤم مع هذه الحقائق التى لا مفرّ منها .. عظّم الله أجرك
Posted by: زمان الوصل | 13 July 2008